BJP, regional parties still sceptical of pre-poll alliance
SHILLONG: With the Assembly polls due within eleven months, there is scepticism among regional political parties to forge any pre-poll alliance, but NPP has revived the hope for adjustment before elections.
NPP legislator James Sangma told The Shillong Times on Sunday that the party is in touch with BJP, UDP and HSPDP for pre-poll alliance to take on the Congress and ensure victory to form a new government.
“We are ready for seat adjustment. The primary aim is to vote out the current government. Enough of the years of misrule and corruption. By all means, the Congress Government will have to go as it lacks transparency and accountability,” Sangma said.
However, after the outcome of Manipur polls, State BJP leader Shibun Lyngdoh recently hinted at going alone for the 2018 polls.
Following this, UDP leader Bindo Lanong had said the party also prefers to put up candidates in almost all the seats.
UDP president Donkupar Roy recently said it appears that no one is willing to sacrifice any seat in case there is a request for seat-sharing or for pre-poll alliance. “A lot of sacrifice is needed for any political party to part with a seat to another like-minded political party,” Roy said.
However, on a positive note, the NPP leader said the party is looking for alliance of non-Congress parties.
“We are still in touch with BJP, UDP and HSPDP,” Sangma said.
Asked whether NPP would follow the Manipur way in contesting alone in 2018 polls in Meghalaya, the NPP leader said there is a different dynamism in Meghalaya compared to Manipur.
“Manipur is different from Meghalaya. We want to go for pre-poll alliance formula with like- minded parties here,” he said.
When pointed out that other non-Congress political parties prefer to contest separately in the Assembly polls, Sangma said the party will try to have a pre-poll alliance, which will of course require mutual understanding and compromise. The NPP legislator admitted that with the party registering significant win in Manipur, it started its varied activities with optimism.
“We are strengthening our party organisation and reaching out to people. We will tell people about the failures of the Mukul Sangma-led Congress Government, disparity in development, lack of safety and security to the public, especially women and children, financial crisis due to lavish spending of the government on festivals and rampant corruption,” Sangma said.